PAC fears threat to Badal's life
Chandigarh, December 30
The issue of threat to the life of the SAD president and former Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal dominated the meeting of the party's Political Affairs Committee.

Justice should not be restricted to a selected few but it should be delivered to the common man at an affordable cost. If people lose their faith in the judiciary, democracy will be the biggest casualty, stated Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr Justice Vijender Jain here today.

Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Mr Justice Vijender Jain laying the foundation stone of the district court complex in Bathinda on Saturday.
— A Tribune photograph

Share revenue with local bodies, says panel
Chandigarh, December 30
The Chairman of the Third Punjab Finance Commission in his final report has said the operating expenditure gap of Rs 20 crore existed annually in case of urban local bodies and Rs 327 crore in case of panchayati raj institutions (PRIs) in the state. It has recommended a revenue-sharing formula from tax collections.

Flashback-2006
Mohali’s district status reduced Ropar’s importance
Ropar, December 30
This year a landmark decision came as a ‘bolt from the blue’ for Ropar district. The decision was the carving out of Mohali as a separate district from it. The government termed its decision to give Mohali district status was to counter Panchkula and also in view of the mega projects and other industries coming up in Mohali.

Dullo firm on no ticket to ‘outsiders’
Ludhiana December 30
The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president, Mr Shamsher Singh Dullo, today reiterated his opposition to allotting party ticket to those who join the party at the eleventh hour.

Cong leaders try to secure ticket for sons
Gurdaspur/Mukerian December 30
With the Assembly elections for Punjab scheduled on February 13, the political lobbying for party ticket has intensified. The Gurdaspur and Mukerian Assembly constituencies are likely to have new Congress candidates in these elections as the present incumbents, Mr Khushal Behl former minister and Mr Kewal Krishan, Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, who are already in their 80s, have announced that they would not contest.

BSM to chalk out poll strategy on Jan 2
Hoshiarpur, December 30
Mr Satnam Singh Kainth, President, Bahujan Samaj Morch, said today that the party would chalk out its election strategy at a meeting to be held at Phagwara on January 2, 2007. He said Dalits and supporters were spread over in 55 to 60 assembly segments of the state. The morcha would vote and support candidates of only those parties which would ensure the upliftment of the
down-troddens after coming to power.

Retd Commissioner offered ticket?
Amritsar, December 30
Noticing tremendous public affection and response to the outgoing bureaucrat, Mr K. S. Kang, two political parties, the BJP and the BSP, have reportedly given him an offer to field him from the constituency of his choice here.

Ex-envoy in SAD panel
Chandigarh, December 30
The president of the Shiromani Akali
Dal (SAD), Mr Parkash Singh Badal, on Thursday appointed the former High Commissioner of India to Mozambique and
Swaziland, Mr Jaspal Singh, as a member of the Political Affairs
Committee (PAC) of the party. Mr Jaspal Singh is a prolific writer on Sikh issues and history.

Plot to defame me, says Rode
Amritsar, December 30
Former Akal Takht Jathedar, Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode, today held an ardas at Akal Takht in Golden Temple and made an impassioned appeal that he should be penalised in case the allegations levelled by the SAD chief, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, proved to be
correct. Otherwise Mr Badal should be punished.

Power bills: Police complex defaulter
Abohar, December 30
The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) , which had removed wires from a transformer that supplied electricity to a complex developed by the Punjab Police Housing Corporation restored the electricity supply yesterday after receiving fresh assurance from those residing in the complex.

Task force to suggest steps for food safety
Abohar, December 30
The Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries has formed a task force for boosting the growth of food processing industries in the state. A 32-member panel will have 18 non-official members on its roll.

Amritsar, December 30
The hanging of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein by the US-backed Iraqi government was condemned by the CPM here today.
The CPM activists today burned the effigy of US President George W
Bush and earlier took out a mock funeral procession from its office
opposite the railway station to Hall Gate.

Activists raise slogans against US President George W Bush in Amritsar on Saturday.
— A Tribune photograph

Poll code puts cotton ginners in tight spot
Bathinda, December 30
The implementation of the model code of conduct in Punjab has put the cotton ginners, who are on strike, in a tricky situation and they have called a meeting of their executive tomorrow to find a face saving formula in wake of the fresh developments.

Bajwa re-appointed wildlife warden
Hoshiarpur December 30
Mr Sukhdeep Singh Bajwa, who caught Mr Puneet Goel, SDM, in the peacock poaching case has been re-appointed honorary wildlife warden of the district for two years. The notification in this regard was issued by the government on Thursday.

Youth kidnapped, shot dead
Abohar, December 30
Raju, son of Ram Kumar of Mehsana village in Fatehabad district, was allegedly kidnapped and shot dead a few persons. His body was thrown under the shrubs. A few women who had come to collect firewood in Kailash Nagar, Kala Tibba road, on the outskirts of this town spotted the body. They informed residents of the
locality. The DSP and the SHO rushed to the spot.

Newly set up colleges without regular principals: Assn
Chandigarh, December 30
The Punjab Government College Teachers Association has said there is a strong resentment among people, students and teaching staff of colleges because of the failure of the government to appoint regular principals in seven newly opened government colleges in the state.